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Amalgam spheres for energy-saving lamps and the manufacture thereof

a technology of energy-saving lamps and amalgam spheres, which is applied in the manufacture of electrode systems, electric discharge tubes/lamps, and discharge tubes luminescnet screens, etc., can solve the problems of low mercury content, low mercury content, and mercury in the form of amalgam spheres, and achieve reliable storage and use, high mercury content, and no endangering human health

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-07-30
UMICORE AG & CO KG
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The high mercury content tin amalgam spheres enable efficient mercury introduction into energy-saving lamps with reduced occupational hazards and improved handling characteristics, allowing for miniaturization and stable operation in automatic metering machines.

Problems solved by technology

However, introduction of the mercury in the form of amalgam spheres into the gas discharge bulbs has been known for a long time.
The pellets therefore tend to conglutinate when they come into contact with one another.
A disadvantage of the tin amalgam described in JP 2000251836 is the low mercury content.
Owing to the increasing miniaturization which is also being sought in the case of energy-saving lamps, this can lead to problems in the construction and manufacture of the lamps.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0012]The spheres can be produced from a melt of the amalgam by a process described in EP 1381485 B1. For this purpose, the completely molten amalgam is introduced dropwise into a cooling medium having a temperature below the solidification temperature of the amalgam. The temperature of the cooling medium is preferably from 10 to 20° C. below the liquidus temperature of the amalgam. It is advantageous here that tin amalgams melt completely at temperatures below 230° C. The outlay for ensuring occupational hygiene in the production of tin amalgam spheres is therefore considerably lower than in the case of zinc amalgam spheres.

[0013]As cooling medium, preference is given to using a mineral oil, an organic oil or a synthetic oil. A silicone oil has been found to be very useful. After formation of the amalgam spheres in the cooling medium, they are separated off from the cooling medium and degreased.

[0014]Amalgam spheres having diameters in the range from 50 to 2000 μm, preferably from ...

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Abstract

Energy-saving lamps contain a gas filling of mercury vapor and argon in a gas discharge bulb. Amalgam spheres are used for filling the gas discharge bulb with mercury. A tin amalgam having a high proportion by weight of mercury in the range from 30 to 70% by weight is proposed. Owing to the high mercury content, the amalgam spheres have liquid amalgam phases on the surface. Coating of the spheres with a tin or tin alloy powder converts the liquid amalgam phases on the surface into a solid amalgam having a high tin content. This prevents conglutination of the amalgam spheres during storage and processing.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is the U.S. National Phase Under Chapter II of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) of PCT International Application No. PCT / US2008 / 054839 filed on Apr. 22, 2008, which claims priority on European application No. 07008717.6 filed on Apr. 28, 2007.INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND[0002]The invention relates to amalgam spheres for introducing mercury into modern energy-saving lamps.[0003]Modern energy-saving lamps of the TFL (tube fluorescent lamp) or CFL type (compact fluorescent lamp) type belong to the group of low-pressure gas discharge lamps. They comprise a gas discharge bulb which is filled with a mixture of mercury vapour and argon and is coated on the inside with a fluorescent luminophore. The ultraviolet radiation emitted by the mercury during operation is converted by the luminophore coating into visible light by means of fluorescence. The lamps are therefore also referred to as fluorescent lamps.[0004]The mercury required fo...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01J1/62H01J63/04
CPCC22C7/00C22C13/00H01J61/20H01J61/24H01J61/28Y10T428/2982
Inventor PTASCHEK, GEORGDI VINCENZO, CALOGERO
Owner UMICORE AG & CO KG